The Study of Suicide by Emile Durkheim

Le Suicide  by French founding sociologist Émile Durkheim is a classic text in sociology that is widely taught to psychology students. Published in 1897, the book was the first to present a sociological study of suicide, and its conclusion that suicide can have origins in social causes rather than just being due to individual temperament was groundbreaking at the time. Key Takeaways: Social Integration and Suicide Durkheim concluded that the more socially integrated and connected a person is, the less likely he or she is to commit suicide. As social integration decreases, people are more likely to commit suicide. Overview of Durkheims Text The text of Suicide offered an examination of how suicide rates at the time differed by religion. Specifically, Durkheim analyzed differences between Protestants and Catholics. He found a lower rate of suicide among Catholics and theorized that this was due to stronger forms of social control and cohesion among them than among Protestants. Demographics of Suicide: Study Findings Additionally, Durkheim found that suicide was less common among women than men, more common among single people than among those who are romantically partnered, and less common among those who have children. Further, he found that soldiers commit suicide more often than civilians and that curiously, rates of suicide are higher during peacetime than they are during wars. Correlation vs. Causation: Suicide's Driving Forces Based on his gleanings from the data, Durkheim argued that suicide can be a result not only of psychological or emotional factors but of social factors as well. Durkheim reasoned that social integration, in particular, is a factor. The more socially integrated a person is—that is, the more he or she is connected to society, possessing a feeling of general belonging and a sense that life makes sense within the social context—the less likely he or she is to commit suicide. As social integration decreases, people are more likely to commit suicide. Durkheim's Typology of Suicide Durkheim developed a theoretical typology of suicide to explain the differing effects of social factors and how they might lead to suicide: Anomic suicide is an extreme response by a person who experiences anomie,  a sense of disconnection from society and a feeling of not belonging resulting from weakened social cohesion. Anomie occurs during periods of serious social, economic, or political upheaval, which results in quick and extreme changes to society and everyday life. In such circumstances, a person might feel so confused and disconnected that they choose to commit suicide.​Altruistic suicide is often a result of excessive regulation of individuals by social forces such that a person may be moved to kill themselves for the benefit of a cause or for society at large. An example is someone who commits suicide for the sake of a religious or political cause, such as the infamous Japanese Kamikaze pilots of World War II, or the hijackers that crashed the airplanes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania in 2001. In such social circumstances, people are so strongly integrated into social expectations and society itself that they will kill themselves in an effort to achieve collective goals.Egoistic suicide  is a profound response executed by people who feel totally detached from society. Ordinarily, people are integrated into society by work roles, ties to family and community, and other social bonds. When these bonds are weakened through retirement or loss of family and friends, the likelihood of egoistic suicide increases. Elderly people, who suffer these losses most profoundly, are highly susceptible to egoistic suicide.Fatalistic suicide  occurs under conditions of extreme social regulation resulting in oppressive conditions and a denial of the self and of agency. In such a situation a person may elect to die rather than continue enduring the oppressive conditions, such as the case of suicide among prisoners. Sources Durkheim, Émile. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. Trans. Spaulding, John A. New York: The Free Press, 1979 (1897).  Jones, Robert Alun. Émile Durkheim: An Introduction to Four Major Works. Beverly Hills CA: Sage Publications, 1986.Szelà ©nyi, Ivà ¡n. Lecture 24: Durkheim on Suicide. SOCY 151: Foundations of Modern Social Theory. Open Yale Courses. New Haven CT: Yale University. 2009.

The Moral Dilemmas Of Mr. Oliver - 913 Words

The moral quandaries that often surround the subject of whistle-blowing are difficult to navigate, especially in today s state of diminished ethical values in business. Weighing ones personal gain and financial security against that of the good of the public interest is a lengthy and difficult process, however I believe that anyone who seriously examines the matter is compelled to ultimately arrive at a conclusion of moral duty to society. Given Robert Wallace s circumstances, he should undoubtedly report his findings of the possible unscrupulous financial activities of Mr. Oliver Bigelow to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions who oversees banking in the state. Robert s moral obligation ends at reporting these circumstances to the proper authorities on the matter. I arrive at this conclusion by employing the ethical reasoning of J.S Mill s Utilitarianism where the moral action is defined as whichever action creates the most pleasure or minimizes the most pain for the lar gest amount of people. Given the definition of moral or good acts by utilitarianism, reporting Mr. Bigelow s financial discrepancies firstly diminishes the most amount of overall pain. Bigelow s irresponsible loans, given to himself, hurt the financial stability of the bank and that of the bank s employees and shareholders. These bad loans that will likely default seem to be a temporary solution to the tractor dealership s problems, as found by Mr. Wallace in his audit of the company, itShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Legal Rules On Judicial Decision Making1621 Words   |  7 Pagesavailable materials of the science are contained in printed books†. Printed books refer here to the reported decisions of courts. Formalists believed that it was not the judge’s role to choose, and especially not based on their values, which — both moral and political — were irrelevant and should not interfere with their judgment. According to formalists, judges rely heavily on syllogisms, where they use a scientific reasoning to come up with a legal outcome. It starts with a premise, to which isRead MoreA Dilemma and My Solution Based On Utilitarianism Ethical Model1356 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿A Dilemma and My Solution Based On Utilitarianism Ethical Model (Assignment # 1) Prepared by : Efren A. Course-Section : GNED212-091 Instructor : Mr. Paul B. Class : Friday Afternoons Part 1: Utilitarianism Ethical Model Many people from all walks of life have trouble making decisions in their everyday lives, especially on tough or critical situations that may even involve life and death considerations. To address this issue, there are four ethical models and four ethicalRead More Overcrowding and Housing in Nineteenth-Century London Essay examples1476 Words   |  6 Pagesindustrial jobs drove the wage rate down. There was also the sticky question of the health of the workers. Gross overcrowding led to unsanitary conditions for the underclass. While there was some concern for the dignity and moral perseverance of the people living in squalor, the real dilemma was economic, keeping them well enough to work. There were also the problems of keeping crime in check and keeping the masses content so as to avoid a revolt. Some Notes About the Problems of Overcrowding In 1811Read MoreEssay Impact of Society of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre2754 Words   |  12 Pagesof perfect equality for men and women, Mrs Lynne Linton complained that the Girl of the Period was excessively forward and independent, comparing badly with the simple and genuine girl of the past. Many of the middle classes agreed, but not all, and by the end of the century the Girl of the Period had matured into the New Woman, a predatory figure who rejected marriage, advocated contraception and wanted independence through paid work. To those like Mrs Linton who supported the status quo thisRead MoreEssay about Passion and Practicality of Jane Eyre1862 Words   |  8 Pagesarrival at Lowood, Jane meets Helen Burns, who teaches her patience and rationality. Helen is in many ways a Christ figure, accepting what happens to her as Gods will and speaking often of heavenly rewards. When Jane is falsely accused and humiliated by Mr. Brocklehurst, her instinct is to lash out in anger, and s he finds it difficult to deal with her emotions. When Miss Temple asks her to explain why the accusations are false, it is Helen Burns words that allow Jane to present her side of the storyRead MoreThe comparison of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, Goldsmiths She Stoops to Conquer, Wildes the Importance of Being Earnest, and Shaws Mrs Warrens Profession2543 Words   |  11 Pagesthey have in common. Written in the 16th century, A Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare is the oldest among the four dramas. Goldsmith wrote She Stoops to Conquer in 1773, Oscar Wildes The Importance of Being Earnest was published in 1895, while Mrs Warrens Profession by Bernard Shaw was written in 1893. It is obvious that each era imposed a particular world view on the writer, therefore a brief historical outlook when talking about the plays is more than essential. On the other hand, it is alsoRead MoreGothic Literature : Gothic Writing1974 Words   |  8 Pagescorrupt nature of both white society and the American nation, a corruption which grows out of the material reality of the slave origins of both.† (Phillips and Zlosnik) Writers began focusing on societies faults which led Charles Dickens to write Oliver Twist, Bleak House, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and the epic ghost story A Christmas Carol that viewed the hardships of the low and middle class and the elegance of the higher class. (Snodgrass) In 1821 John Howison wrote The FloridaRead MoreThe Ethics Of An Organization2949 Words   |  12 Pages In one example, patient X, who has recently just divorced her husband, comes to see Dr. LN. Dr. LN has also just recently divorced. The personal feelings of Dr. LN should not interfere with patient X. Lefkowitz (2008) ascribed that there are two moral dimensions: justice and welfare caring. Furthermore, within this spectrum, the very domain specific attribution entails the beneficence and nonmaleficence of the practitioner’s responsibility to submit to their clients/patients. As a result, howeverRead MoreEssay on Marlows Racism in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness3589 Words   |  15 Pagesnumber of life-altering revelations.   He beholds his most striking revelation when he begins to compare the civilized European man with the savage African man.   These two opposing forces represent the two conflicting viewpoints present in every dilemma, be it cultural, social, or otherwise.   As a modern European man who believes religiously in imperialism, Marlow is inherently ar rogant.   Yet, although he cannot accept the African jungle as being equally important as imperialism, his experiencesRead MoreA Dialogue of Self and Soul11424 Words   |  46 Pagesalternately stares out at the ‘drear November day’ and reads of polar regions in Bewick’s History of British Birds. The ‘death-white realms’ of the Arctic fascinate her; she broods upon ‘the multiplied rigors of extreme cold’ as if brooding upon her own dilemma: whether to stay in, behind the oppressively scarlet curtain, or to go out into the cold of a loveless world. Her decision is made for her. She is found by John Reed, the tyrannical son of the family, who reminds her of her anomalous position in

Effects of Sedentary Lifestyle free essay sample

Effects of Sedentary Lifestyle Sedentary lifestyle is a medical term to indicate a lifestyle with irregular exercise. People who are having sedentary lifestyle are prone to depression, being low self-esteem and suffer from health problems. As an effect from sedentary lifestyle, people are prone to depression. They will easily get into the feelings of loneliness, sad and despair since they are lack of interaction with the public. They usually spend their days on sitting, reading, watching television and facing computer. This will also make them being pale, not vibrant and even negative thinking.In addition, active people are less likely to suffer from depression. On the other hand, sedentary lifestyle can lead to low self-esteem. People with sedentary lifestyle tend to be lack of self-confidence. Overweight or obesity due to irregular exercise will make them consider themselves are under the extra-special scrutiny of others. Therefore, they are afraid of getting social life. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Sedentary Lifestyle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In other words, sedentary lifestyle brings the negative evaluation of oneself. Besides that, there are many health problems caused by sedentary lifestyle.For example, health diseases, stroke and diabetes. Sedentary lifestyle is definitely developing a poor health for us. Irregular exercise is not only slowing down metabolism system, but also weakening immune system. As a result, sedentary lifestyle affects our health and makes our body unable to function properly. In conclusion, sedentary lifestyle is not a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise is important and essential for our health. We should not follow sedentary lifestyle, so try to find out motivation to change it. (250 words)